It is used as a treatment for some autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and Crohn's disease, to name a few. Although methotrexate was originally designed as a chemotherapy drug (in high doses), in low doses methotrexate is a generally safe and well tolerated drug in the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. Because of its effectiveness, low-dose methotrexate is now first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment for cancer

I took the drug when I was going through cancer treatment. The entire event is a blur to me now, but at the time, with the doses I was taking, I was not feeling so hot. I suspect the dose you are being asked to take is much less. I do not have any long term side effects from the treatment, that I know of. It has been well over 20 years - so the drug has not been taken off the market yet.... seems tried and true.

I've been taking it off and on for several years for RA. My rheumatologist has me on a pretty aggressive treatment program involving several different drugs (and a pretty hefty cost to my insurance company) and this is just one of the components. I currently take 20 mg of it once a week. I've never had any difficulty with it.

I'm on it and have been for about 6 months but my pcp is trying to find something to replace it because it doesn't agree with me that well and it sometimes interferes with my other meds. I don't like the way it makes me feel although it does make a big difference controling my problems ...better than staying on prednisone 365 days a yr.

I'm on it and have been for about 6 months but my pcp is trying to find something to replace it because it doesn't agree with me that well and it sometimes interferes with my other meds. I don't like the way it makes me feel although it does make a big difference controling my problems ...better than staying on prednisone 365 days a yr.

I agree with your feelings on prednisone.

Let's hope it agrees with me. Thanks for y'alls input. I was feeling fairly put out about it. It really hit home that I have a serious form of arthritis and that plaquenil wasn't enough.

I'm jsut curious why my doctor prescribed folic acid with it if it is supposed to prevent the metabolism of folic acid. interesting.

I know of several people on Methotrexate as I've been a psoriatic arthritis patient for many years and, during my treatments (Remicade-IV drip), you get to talk to others. My brother has it as well and his doctors have chosen Methotrexate as part of his therapy. Since he's on so many things I can't specifically say what effects he's had from that one medication, but he has behavioral issues from some part of his treatment. The only direct effect I know of is the damage to the liver, but that comes with all of the drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis (and other auto immune disorders). I have chosen not to use Methotrexate. It's a personal choice due to the liver effects. Maybe I'm wrong - who knows?

Good luck with your treatments; let me know if you need to talk to someone who has been travelling this road for a very long time.

I was on Remicade for eight years. I know it's a potentially dangerous drug and it's obscenely expensive, but for me it was a miracle drug that really worked; until my body couldn't take it any longer. One of the reasons I was put on methotrexate was to try to recreate the positive effects of the Remicade with a different combination of drugs.

Thanks, folks. I working through my emotions one day at a time. And the symptoms of the side effects. Your comments do reassure me.

Now I just need to deal with my doctor who did not warn me of ALL of the side effects. He stressed the liver damage, but not hair falling out. Nor why I need monthly monitoring of certain blood levels. Or that it's needed. Of course, he also stressed the damage that could occur if the psoriatic arthritis was left untreated.

Problem is that he knows better. I was referred to him because of similar tactics by previous doctors. I'm disappointed and told his nurse that. He will also hear it from me. I didn't appreciate the scare tactics (which worked) because I know the dangers of RMDs. My mother died from LUPUS.